Embodiments of the invention relate generally to methods to generate microorganisms and/or microorganism cultures that exhibit the ability to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from carbon sources at high efficiencies. In several embodiments, preferential expression of, or preferential growth of microorganisms utilizing certain metabolic pathways, enables the high efficiency PHA production from carbon-containing gases or materials. Several embodiments relate to the microorganism cultures, and/or microorganisms isolated therefrom.

The present disclosure provides methanotrophic bacteria that are modified to produce less glycogen, and methods of using the modified methanotrophic bacteria to produce a desired product, such as protein(s) or metabolite(s).

The present disclosure provides methanotrophic bacteria that are modified to produce less glycogen, and methods of using the modified methanotrophic bacteria to produce a desired product, such as protein(s) or metabolite(s).

Embodiments of the invention relate to the microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoic acids, or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), from substrates which cannot be used as a source of carbon and/or energy for microbial growth or PHA synthesis and which have microbial and environmental toxicity. According to one embodiment of the invention, a process for the production of PHA is provided wherein an enzyme such as methane monooxygenase is used to convert volatile organic compounds into PHA through the use of microorganisms that are unable to use volatile organic compounds as a source of carbon for growth or PHA production.

Embodiments of the invention relate to the microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoic acids, or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), from substrates which cannot be used as a source of carbon and/or energy for microbial growth or PHA synthesis and which have microbial and environmental toxicity. According to one embodiment of the invention, a process for the production of PHA is provided wherein an enzyme such as methane monooxygenase is used to convert volatile organic compounds into PHA through the use of microorganisms that are unable to use volatile organic compounds as a source of carbon for growth or PHA production.

Reactors, systems and processes for the production of biomass by culturing microorganisms in aqueous liquid culture medium circulating in a loop reactor which utilize substantially vertical flow zones are described. Recovery and processing of the culture microorganisms to obtain products, such as proteins or hydrocarbons is described.

Reactors, systems and processes for the production of biomass by culturing microorganisms in aqueous liquid culture medium circulating in a loop reactor which utilize substantially vertical flow zones are described. Recovery and processing of the culture microorganisms to obtain products, such as proteins or hydrocarbons is described.

The present disclosure provides methods of combining methanotrophic bacterial biomass production with a methanation process, comprising: (a) culturing a methanotrophic bacterium in the presence of methane and oxygen to produce biomass and carbon dioxide; and (b) generating methane using the carbon dioxide produced in step (a) and hydrogen. Also provided are systems that comprise: (a) one or more bioreactors comprising a culture of a methanotrophic bacterium to produce biomass and carbon dioxide in the presence of methane, and (b) one or more reactors for generating methane, wherein the system is configured so that the carbon dioxide generated from reactor (a) is fed into reactor (b).

The present disclosure provides methods of combining methanotrophic bacterial biomass production with a methanation process, comprising: (a) culturing a methanotrophic bacterium in the presence of methane and oxygen to produce biomass and carbon dioxide; and (b) generating methane using the carbon dioxide produced in step (a) and hydrogen. Also provided are systems that comprise: (a) one or more bioreactors comprising a culture of a methanotrophic bacterium to produce biomass and carbon dioxide in the presence of methane, and (b) one or more reactors for generating methane, wherein the system is configured so that the carbon dioxide generated from reactor (a) is fed into reactor (b).

Several embodiments of the invention relate generally to a system and methods for the treatment of gaseous emissions comprising methane and one or more non-methane compounds that can influence the metabolism of methane-oxidizing microorganisms. In several embodiments, there is provided a system and methods for the treatment of methane emissions through the use of methanotrophic microorganisms to generate functionally consistent and harvestable products. Certain embodiments of the invention are particularly advantageous because they reduce environmentally-destructive methane emissions and produce harvestable end-products.